There are full cards at both Seoul (11 races from 10:45 to 18:00) and Busan (6 races from 12:40 to 17:00) on Sunday. Both meetings are open to the public but advance reservations must be made using the “MyCard” app. Here are previews for both tracks:
Seoul Race 1: Class 6 (1000M) Allowance / KRW 25 Million
Two-year-olds to kick off proceedings with just two runners previously lining up in the race. (11) GUEOKMAAL looks to one to beat based on trial performances. The Officer filly clocked a very quick time in comparison to her opponents here. She showed plenty of speed in her trial, we think she will work forward at all costs and find the fence. (8) GEOSEN DOLPUNG is another that was impressive when winning his trial. The Take Charge Indy colt worked forward with Lee Hyeok asking him to keep his mind on the job at the furlong pole. (7) CHANGI CHARM looks capable of figuring on debut. The filly looks to be best drawn of the pacemakers, she should be able to work across from a central draw early and sit prominent in the run. (9) LAGERTHA looks next best in a race with plenty of unknown factors.
| Selections | (11) Gueokmaal (8) Geosen Dolpung (7) Changi Charm (9) Lagertha |
| Next Best | 3, 5 |
| Fast Start | 7, 8, 11 |
Seoul Race 2: Class 6 (1200M) Allowance / KRW 25 Million
It’s hard to see (1) DDAENGBEOL being beaten here. The Rock Hard Ten colt ran 3rd in what was an admittedly slowly run race on debut back in June but returned to win a trial in a fast time at the end of October. From the inside Antonio Da Silva is unlikely to waste too much time getting to the front and he should win. That’s primarily because the rest aren’t up to much. (8) SEONBONG GOLD ran a semi-creditable time on debut at the distance last month – faster than any of the others have managed – and that’s probably enough to make her second-favourite. (4) GANGHAN YEOJEONSA didn’t show much during the summer season but has at least got a runner-up finish to her name and has placing chances here. Of the two first-timer starters, (10) HAWK QUEEN has the best chance of making an impact first-up.
| Selections | (1) Ddaengbeol (8) Seonbong Gold (10) Hawk Queen (4) Ganghan Yeojeonsa |
| Next Best | 3 |
| Fast Start | 1, 4 |
Seoul Race 3: Class 6 (1300M) Allowance / KRW 25 Million
Korean-bred maiden galloper to line up over the 1300m in the third. There is no standout in the race but (10) MIR SKY looks to be one of the main chances on her performances back in July. The Federalist filly comes off successive placings when hitting the line strong on both occasions. She’s unlikely to show early speed but will be doing her best work late. (6) SAND POWER is never too far away and has each way claims in the event. The Rock Hard Ten colt’s most recent run was back in August when fourth behind Korean Pearl in a better field than this. (9) K N WONDERFUL reeled off a good final sectional last time out when finishing second behind Mussang Hwanghu. The gelding is likely to settle well back, Antonio Da Silva cannot let him get too far back otherwise minor money may be best case scenario. If (7) BRAVO MAY can improve on his debut performance, he looks another that is capable of collecting a cheque.
| Selections | (10) Mir Sky (6) Sand Power (9) K N Wonderful (7) Bravo May |
| Next Best | 3, 8 |
| Fast Start | 5, 6 |
Seoul Race 4: Class 5 (1300M) Handicap / KRW 40 Million
(11) WILD KINGDOM has shown plenty of speed across his six starts so far. True he has just the solitary win to his name, an all the way emphatic score over 1400M in June, nut there looks to be more to come. Draw a line through his latest 6th place in October. (9) RAPIDO ARES has also caught the eye over her three outings. Her win came at 1200M and she ran on well for 2nd on her first try at this class back in August. She is versatile having performed well when on pace and from when coming from further back and she should go close today. Both (6) CAPTAIN BRAVO and (7) GANA PARK struggled a little on their respective first tries at this class but both have the potential to improve and along with (3) GIVEN RUNNER look the most credible options for the minor money.
| Selections | (11) Wild Kingdom (9) Rapido Ares (6) Captain Bravo (7) Gana Park |
| Next Best | 3, 12 |
| Fast Start | 3, 4, 11 |
Seoul Race 5: Class 6 (1400M) Allowance / KRW 25 Million
Another maiden event for the Korean-breds where a compact field of ten line up over the seven furlongs. (4) WHITE WING is the on top selection as she lines up for her second career start. The Concord Point filly overcame a wide draw on debut before sitting midfield, running through the line strong to finish third. With a better draw today, Park Eul-woon can let her find her feet naturally before settling her just of speed. If she finishes off in similar fashion to last start she can take out the event. (3) SHINY QUEEN brings some good formlines into the race finishing third and fourth respectively to Goldilocks and Never Walk Alone. She seems to have improved with a few more starts under her belt, treat her as a winning chance. (6) MENI STORM looks a place chance if she can improve a couple of lengths. The filly ran through the line well last start when she was tried over this distance for the first time. (7) THUNDER WIND looks next best after finishing fourth behind Alchan Nuri last month.
| Selections | (4) White Wing (3) Shiny Queen (6) Meni Storm (7) Thunder Wind |
| Next Best | 2, 9 |
| Fast Start | 3 |
Busan Race 2: Class 5 (1600M) Allowance / KRW 40 Million
The Class Five gallopers line up in the fifth event over 1600m. (6) BORNE MATTA comes off a good performance last start when second behind Ultra Phoenix. The Testa Matta showed good early speed before finishing off well over 1400m. You Hyun-myung will partner the four-year-old and is likely to settle him in the forward half of the field. (7) B.K. EUAN is an eleven start maiden but has shown some promising performances. The three-year-old finished fourth three weeks ago behind Speed Kingdom when sitting in the leading division. He will get the claim of Mo Jun-ho once again and should take improvement from the last run. (8) MAGIC HORSE has been thereabouts at her past few starts including a last start fourth behind B.K John over 1400m. She has previously placed over the Busan mile and appears an each-way chance. (2) ACE JILJU lines up for his second-up effort after finishing midfield behind the promising Fantastic Man last time out. His strike rate is poor but if he were to collect a minor cheque it would not surprise.
| Selections | (6) Borne Matta (7) B.K. Euan (8) Magic Horse (2) Ace Jilju |
| Next Best | 11, 4 |
| Fast Start | 3, 4, 7 |
Seoul Race 6: Class 4 (1400M) Allowance / KRW 60 Million
(5) ROCKUI JEWANG beat a couple of these on his way to 4th place at class and distance on October 16th. He came from off the pace to record what was his best finish to date and he looks nicely in here again to this time come out on top. (4) JEOLYE is a proven winner and has posted the fastest time of any of these over this distance. She has mixed her form and has been beaten by a couple of these in recent outings but has some quality about her and should be heavily involved. One of those to have finished ahead of Jeolye is (3) ECHO FIRST ON. She is yet to win in thirteen starts and is another who mixes her form, but she has tended to go well when drawn inside and can get forward early. (8) DOLGYEOK APEURO and (10) ROAD BLACK are others in at least the placing hunt.
| Selections | (5) Rockui Jewang (4) Jeolye (10) Road Black (3) Echo First On |
| Next Best | 8, 1 |
| Fast Start | 3, 5 |
Busan Race 3: Class 5 (1600M) Allowance / KRW 40 Million
(1) GEUMA NIPPY obliged at the second time of asking on October 23rd with a front-running win over class and distance. That was during the period of reduced prize money racing so he gets no penalty for it and there is no reason why he can’t repeat today. He’ll be close to the pace from the start and is likely to be the prohibitive favourite. (7) SMART MOD is a locally bred galloper who has won his way up to this level. His first crack at it back in June didn’t go especially well but the extended break may have done him some good. He certainly knows how to win at this distance. That layoff may also have worked out for (10) K.B. BOSS who was losing his way somewhat in the summer. He trialed up very nicely at the beginning of this month and can be given another chance today (although a word of warning – he trialed up well before his last preparation too. Aside from the favourite, it isn’t a daunting race so there could be an opportunity for the solitary debut-maker (5) MR. SSAK THREE to go well first up.
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Horse Racing in Korea 